#136 Meditate


Almost all pain specialists recommend meditation as part of a chronic pain management program.

I've benefited from many different types of meditation, but the basis of all of them is the same; stilling the mind by focusing inwards and ignoring the thoughts that come and go. You can have a specific goal with your meditation, then visualization can be the way to go, otherwise just focusing on the breath, either by repeating a mantra or counting your breaths is a good basic meditation.

This is a simple all-round healing meditation formula:

Find a quiet location, a comfortable body position, and bring your attention to your body, focusing on a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, gradually filling your entire stomach and chest all the way up to your shoulders, then let it out, like deflating a balloon.

As you breathe in, visualize filling your entire being with light an healing, and as you breathe out, imagine pain leaving your body as gray mist that evaporates. You may accompany this meditation with a healing mantra or affirmation, like "I am light", "I am healing" or something else that speaks to you especially.

Sit or lie this way for 10-15 minutes. When thoughts come just let them pass through and gently bring our focus back to your breath. Don't judge yourself for becoming distracted - just continue bringing your focus back, even a moments full concentration on healing can help relieve hours of distracted anguish.  It may help to have a CD of meditation music in the background, and if you always use the same music this creates a kind of conditioning, making it easier to concentrate for every time you use it.

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